Tourist In Hawaiian Monk Seal Rock-Throwing Case Faces Online Threats As Federal Hearing Begins
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, the tourist charged over a viral video showing a rock thrown at a Hawaiian monk seal, faced online threats and doxxing as his federal hearing began Wednesday in federal court.[1]
Defense attorney Myles Breiner told the Associated Press that Lytvynchuk has been doxxed and received threats after the video circulated.[1] Breiner said in a KHON interview that his client "never intended to injure the monk seal" and claimed he was trying to protect seals in the area.[1] CBS News reported his lawyer also said Lytvynchuk was assaulted.[2]
The alleged rock-throwing incident was filmed May 5 on Maui and drew widespread attention online.[1] Authorities arrested Lytvynchuk in the Seattle area on May 13, and prosecutors charged him with two federal counts of harassing and attempting to harass a protected Hawaiian monk seal.[1] Each count carries up to one year in prison and potential fines under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Defense attorney Myles Breiner told the Associated Press that his client, Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, has been doxxed and received threats following the viral video (Myles Breiner).
- Breiner said in a KHON interview that Lytvynchuk "never intended to injure the monk seal" and claimed he was trying to protect seals in the area (KHON interview).
- The alleged rock-throwing incident occurred on May 5, 2026, in Maui and was captured in a widely shared monk seal harassment video (Maui).
- Lytvynchuk was arrested in the Seattle area on May 13, 2026 (Seattle area).
- He is due in federal court on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 (federal court).
- Prosecutors charged Lytvynchuk with two federal counts of harassing and attempting to harass a protected Hawaiian monk seal, each count carrying up to one year in prison and potential fines — up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (Endangered Species Act).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Defense attorney Myles Breiner told the Associated Press that his client, Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, has been doxxed and received threats following the viral video.
- Breiner said in a KHON interview that Lytvynchuk "never intended to injure the monk seal" and claims he was trying to protect seals in the area.
- The article reiterates that the alleged rock-throwing incident occurred on May 5, 2026, in Maui, that Lytvynchuk was arrested in the Seattle area on May 13, 2026, and that he is due in federal court on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
- The piece restates that Lytvynchuk faces two federal counts of harassing and attempting to harass a protected Hawaiian monk seal, carrying up to one year in prison on each count and potential fines of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.